Question: When you get stopped for speeding or something on the highway, it seems like police always start by asking “Do you know how fast you were going?” or “Do you know why I stopped you?”
Why do they do this? And what’s the best way to answer? – Jeremy, Tacoma
Answer: They’re not just being curious.
"They want drivers to incriminate themselves by hopefully acknowledging that they have been speeding," said Rob Freeby, a Tacoma criminal defense attorney who specializes in traffic issues.
The best way to respond, Freeby says, is to either say, "I was driving the speed limit" or "I don’t want answer that question before talking to an attorney."
Rob Carson: 253-597-8693
rob.carson@thenewstribune.com
Have a question about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues? Send it to traffic@thenewstribune.com. Include your name, hometown and daytime telephone number. We’ll answer as many as we can.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.